FC Cincinnati stadium deal: West End residents say engagement has started

City Hall is buzzing that putting the soccer stadium in Oakley isn't a done deal. Wording in the Cincinnati ordinance passed Wednesday, providing financial support for stadium infrastructure, gives the team some wiggle room.
Mark Wert/The Enquirer

A rendering of Futbol Club Cincinnati's preliminary Major League Soccer stadium design, which was unveiled to supporters Monday, June 12 in Over-the-Rhine.(Photo: Provided, FC Cincinnati)

The FC Cincinnati stadium deal is raising concerns about community engagement in the West End in the wake of news that the team's soccer stadium could land in the neighborhood.

Sound familiar? Residents in Oakley had the same criticisms.

Just as several clues have dropped that the stadium could be built in the West End -- though the issue is far from settled -- engagement seems to on the uptick too.

West End Community Council President Keith Blake told The Enquirer Wednesday morning that no one from the soccer organization told the community about its pending option to buy property in his neighborhood. He learned about it from media reports Tuesday night.

He said felt disrespected and ignored, especially since the footprint impacts a lot of plans. But by Wednesday night, after talking to soccer officials, he was feeling better.

"I am convinced FCC and Mr. Berding have a commitment to full engagement with the West End Community County with respect to stadium plans when it is appropriate to do so," Blake said.

FC Cincinnati president Jeff Berding has said no decisions had been made and the team would work with whichever community is selected as the site for a stadium.

FC's efforts in the West End surprised Hamilton County Commission president Todd Portune.

“I called Jeff up today after I saw that article, and I said, ‘What’s up?’” Portune said. “Have you changed gears? Are you now moving to get us look at the West End? And Newport, is Newport still up?...And he said ‘no’ to all of the above.”

The county would still build a parking garage for a soccer stadium if FC Cincinnati decided on the West End as the location, he said.

The resolution to pay for the $19 million, 1,000-space parking garage wasn’t tied to Oakley or a specific location. If FC Cincinnati gets accepted into MLS, however, the board of commissioners will have to re-approve the resolution since it expired Dec. 31.

News was 'disturbing to a lot of residents'

The West End site eyed by FC Cincinnati was chosen as the spot for Citirama in December, and the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority has had plans to develop other properties for housing.

Blake said he knew that West End was a "plan B," but didn't know of any plans to put it "smack dab in the middle of City West" apartments.

When Messer Construction relocated its headquarters to West End, Blake said the company met with residents before anything was made public.

This echoes what happened in Oakley as Berding, FC Cincinnati general manager, rushed to close a deal there before a reported Major League Soccer deadline.

In December, a deal was made to put the stadium in Oakley, which the soccer club said was key to winning their Major League Soccer bid. Despite an expected announcement in December then early January, MLS has still not named a second expansion team.

The community council initially supported FC Cincinnati exploring their options in Oakley, but was not informed of more specific plans for the site and financing. The council had a secret meeting over email to vote to not support part of the deal, and then backed the full project again when their concerns were addressed.

Berding has reached out to Cincinnati Public Schools board members to talk about the stadium, suggesting interest in Taft High School’s Stargel Stadium, though he did not specifically say that.

FC Cincinnati also has an option to purchase property in West End from the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority.

Berding told the Enquirer earlier “from our perspective, all activity is focused on keeping as many options on the table as possible.” Berding has said Oakley, Newport and West End are all potential sites from the beginning of the bid process.

“Before any decision to build, we would get broad-based community engagement,” Berding said Tuesday.